Author: maryannsteggles

My creative life has many facets. I am a Professor of Ceramics and Art History at the School of Art, University of Manitoba. I write for a number of ceramic journals including Studio Potter, Art and Perception, Ceramics Technical, New Ceramics, and Ceramics Monthly. My research focuses on historical and contemporary Canadian woodfiring and, in particular, the marginalization of women. This year I have presented papers on the topic of the marginalization of women within the field of ceramics at the Third European Wood Fire Conference in La Borne, France, and the Creative Women Conference at the University of Guelph. I own Wheel and Throw. Contemporary Ceramic Design where I produce limited edition ceramic bottles. In the spring of 2019, I will be one of the resident artists at Hospitalfield in Abroath, Scotland. Can't wait! I can be reached at maryannsteggles@icloud.com

The precise date is still to TBD but it will be around November 15 running until mid-January. This is an amazing chance to look back at the work of one of Canada’s legendary ceramic artists and someone who has given so much to the School of Art and its students. ‘Bob’ has been a fabulous mentor to those working in ceramics.

If you or anyone you know has ceramic work of Bob’s and would loan it to the School of Art Gallery for the exhibition, please get in touch with me as I will be curating the show. The contact information is maryann.steggles@umanitoba.ca

There are only two more spaces left in the Laid Back Wood Kiln Building and Firing Workshop with Markus Boehm at the School of Art, University of Manitoba. The workshop is from June 21-30 June and includes a firing of the kiln. This is a small easy to fire one person kiln. If you are thinking that you want wood-fire effects or the option for lots of ash, this is the sweet little kiln for you. It is a Bourry Box with an extended throat and a small chamber. The cost is $325. If you want more information please get in touch with me: maryannsteggles@icloud.com I expect these two places will be gone very soon!

Joo Young (Grace) Han is one of those extremely talented young women, a rising star in Canadian ceramics. Raised in South Korea, Han graduated with her BFA from Dankook University where she studied traditional Korean ceramics. There she watched the master potter, Joon Hoon Park, while making hundreds of Korean tea bowls, sambal, a day. For seven years, Han worked to perfect her ceramic skills including the making of the large jars for fermented vegetables, the Onngi. In 2011, Han moved to the Canadian prairies. The image above is a still from an upcoming CBC special on Han. In 2016, Han graduated with an MFA from the School of Art, University of Manitoba. There, for two years, she worked tirelessly in her studio asking herself many, many questions. Am I Korean? Am I Canadian? Where is my voice? Her thesis exhibition focused on those binaries as does the photo above.

The Manitoba Arts Council recognized Han’s artistic excellence by awarding her their major grant of $30,000 this past week. It is rare for a ceramic artist to achieve such recognition so early in their career. MAC not the only one, however! Han will be part of the Banff’s Centre’s Clay Revival Residency from June 3-July 7 and she will also have a solo exhibition at Medalta. Well done, Grace.

For a more detailed discussion of Han’s struggle with her identity and the male world of Korean ceramics, see my article in the current issue of New Ceramics, ‘Joo Young Han. One Path, Two Identities, pp 13-15 (2/18).

The enthusiasm over the building of our new ‘sweet’ kiln that one person can fire or a group, with wood effects or full-blown ash, has spread from the West coast of Canada to Denmark! There are now only three places left in the workshop. If you or anyone you know is interested, do not wait. The workshop goes from June 21-30 and that includes a firing and the cooling of the kiln. Lots of hard work and great rewards and an opportunity to learn from Markus Boehm. So happy to have him on board. The cost is $325. Does not include accommodation or meals or travel to Winnipeg. Will include a few smaller pieces fired in the kiln. They must be cone 10 clay and arrive bisque. No glaze. We supply the glaze.

If you have questions, get in touch with me – but, this is first come so don’t hesitate. Write to me at: maryannsteggles@icloud.com

The School of Art at the University of Manitoba is hosting a Bourry box kiln building workshop with Markus Boehm from June 21-30. It will be a one cubic metre kiln and participants are asked to bring pieces for the firing. The fee is $325. Spaces are limited and are on a first come basis. Please e-mail me of your interest: maryannsteggles@icloud.com

Markus Boehm lives in Alt Gaarz, Germany where he has his studio and a sales shop and gallery. In 1989 he passed the rigorous state examinations of the GDR to receive his master potters certification. Boehm was the driving force behind the First European Wood Fire Conference in Brollin, Germany in 2010, an event that was so successful it spread to Denmark for 2014 and to France for August 2018.

For all of you who regularly attend the Ceramics Club spring sale and those of you who haven’t (you really should), they will be having their spring sale in the University of Manitoba Student Union on April 5-6. Hours are normally 9:30-4. If I hear different, I will let you know.

The featured image for today’s blog is one of those students, Bobby Young, and his Japanese breakfast set assignment. He is a young man to keep your eyes on!